Seth Rogen and James Franco’s new movie is really controversial. Like the studio producing the movie being hacked by North Korea, who then threatened to attack theaters showing the movie levels of controversy. In The Interview, two journalists are tasked with assassination North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In response to the threats, major theater chains pulled the film, though it was eventually available through streaming and showings in small theater chains.  But for a movie that could have started World War III, it’s actually a bit disappointing.

The movie begins with two North Korean girls singing a song praising their leader. It quickly turns into a song calling for the death of America. Right away, you know that the film is prepared to pull few punches. James Franco plays Dave Skylark, host of a TMZ-type gossip show. Skylark is a pompous, unintelligent man—basically, James Franco. Seth Rogen plays Aaron Rapoport, Skylark Tonight’s producer and best friend to Skylark. The two begin celebrating their 1000^th episode, where Rapoport’s old friend (Workaholics’ Anders Holm), a producer at 60 Minutes, criticizes him for not reporting on “real news.”

Rapoport then receives a message from a representative from North Korea, who tells him that Jong-un is a big fan of Skylark Tonight. This is actually pretty realistic, since Jong-un is actually a big fan of Hollywood movies, and considers former NBA player Dennis Rodman as his friend. Rapoport is able to set up an interview with him, in hopes that it will be considered as true reporting. Just before they are about to leave for North Korea, they are approached by a CIA agent (Lizzy Caplan) who requests that they assassinate Kim Jong-un. They reluctantly agree, and the three set up a plan on how they will go about the assassination.

They decide to place a ricin-filled strip of poison on Skylark’s hand, which will take effect on Jong-un when they shake hands before the interview. Of course, the plan fails, so Skylark and Rapoport must come up with a new plan to carry out the act. They arrive in North Korea, and discover that Kim Jong-un isn’t the evil dictator that he is painted to be.

Above all, he enjoys basketball, margaritas, and the Katy Perry song “Firework,” which are all interests that he and Skylark have in common. Their newfound friendship causes difficulties, as Skylark becomes disinterested in carrying through with the assassination. This frustrates Rapoport, the CIA, and Sook (Diana Bang), a North Korean official who informs Skylark and Rapoport that many in the government are displeased with Jong-un’s leadership. Obviously, Skylark doesn’t have an easy choice.

From that point until the movie ends, there are a few wild, shockingly violent turns, but The Interview is surprisingly subdued compared to other Rogen and Franco movies. For instance, 2013’s This Is the End was far more absurd, and was probably a funnier movie because of it. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any good jokes in the movie; in fact, there are a lot, but I can’t help but feel like it could have been funnier. The movie isn’t really a political satire, as much as it pokes fun at the media.

The controversy surrounding The Interview definitely hurt its performance in theaters, but so far it has made nearly $40 million through online sales, limited theater release, and “revenge” viewers, so it is close to breaking even on its $44 million dollar budget. Still, if the release had gone as planned, it probably would have made a lot more.

Compared to other Rogen and Franco movies, The Interview is nowhere near their best. It’ll probably be viewed as an important film, one that could have almost started a war with North Korea, but the whole event is a bit overblown. It’s not a bad movie, but it could have been much, much better.

3/5 stars